Wednesday, February 17, 2016

WHO: Zika Response Framework & Joint Operations Plan

#11,025

Overnight the World Health Organization published a 32 page PDF file outlining their global response plan to the Zika virus threat. I've not had time to do more than quickly skim the document, but I wanted to provide my readers with a link to the PDF and the WHO summary.

WHO has launched a global Strategic Response Framework and
Joint Operations Plan to guide the international response to the spread
of Zika virus infection and the neonatal malformations and neurological
conditions associated with it.

The strategy focuses on mobilizing and coordinating partners,
experts and resources to help countries enhance surveillance of the Zika
virus and disorders that could be linked to it, improve vector control,
effectively communicate risks, guidance and protection measures,
provide medical care to those affected and fast-track research and
development of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.

WHO says $56 million is required to implement the Strategic
Response Framework and Joint Operations Plan, of which $25 million would
fund the WHO/AMRO/PAHO response and $31 million would fund the work of
key partners. In the interim, WHO has tapped a recently established
emergency contingency fund to finance its initial operations.

As part of WHO’s new emergency programme, the agency’s
headquarters activated an Incident Management System to oversee the
global response and leverage expertise from across the organization to
address the crisis. WHO is tapping a recently established emergency
contingency fund to finance its initial operations.

WHO’s Regional Office for the Americas (AMRO/PAHO) has been
working closely with affected countries since May 2015, when the first
reports of Zika virus disease emerged from northeastern Brazil.
AMRO/PAHO and partner specialists were deployed to help health
ministries detect and track the virus, contain its spread, advise on
clinical management of Zika and investigate the spikes in microcephaly
and Guillain-Barré syndrome in areas where Zika outbreaks have occurred.
AMRO/PAHO will continue to work with partners to manage the response
in the Americas.

WHO is issuing regular information and guidance on the
congenital and neurological conditions associated with Zika virus
disease, as well as related health, safety and travel issues.

Working with partners, WHO is also mapping efforts to develop
vaccines, therapies, diagnostic tests and new vector control tactics and
putting in place mechanisms to expedite data sharing, product
development and clinical trials.

On 1 February 2016, based on recommendations of the
International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, WHO declared the
increasing cases of neonatal and neurological disorders, amid the
growing Zika outbreak in the Americas, a Public Health Emergency of
International Concern.